Choice and Consent
Marriage requires consent. Civil partnerships require consent. These proposals would automatically create legal rights and obligations.
Your Relationship.
Your Choice.A Campaign For Choice And Consent For Cohabiting Couples
The Government is proposing to create a new legal framework for cohabiting couples.
Under its preferred proposals, couples who live together for three years, or who have a child together, could automatically acquire new legal rights and legal obligations.
If the relationship ends, either partner could ask the courts to make orders over homes, pensions, property and other assets.
Marriage requires consent. Civil partnerships require consent.
These proposals don't.
It's Your Relationship.
Your Choice.
Explainer
Watch: what the Government is proposing and why it matters.
The consultation is open
Have your say by 14 August 2026.
Your voice matters
Help protect choice, consent and financial independence.
About
About the Campaign
Your Relationship. Your Choice. is a campaign promoting informed public debate about the Government's proposed reforms to cohabitation law.
We support protecting vulnerable people.
But we believe legal rights and legal obligations should only arise when two adults actively choose them.
Relationships should be built on choice. The law should respect that.
The Proposals
What is the Government proposing?
A step-by-step look at how the new legal framework would work under the Government's preferred proposals.
- Step 1
Move in together
You start living together.
- Step 2
Three years
Live together for three years,
OR - Step 3
Have a child together
…have a child together.
- Step 4
New legal framework
Automatically part of a new legal framework — no marriage, no civil partnership.
- Step 5
If the relationship ends
Either partner could ask the court to make financial orders.
Courts could make orders over
Financial orders on separation
- Property adjustment
- Pension sharing
- Lump sum payments
- Maintenance (limited)
- Inheritance rights
Our Concerns
Why we're concerned
Six reasons this campaign is calling for informed public debate before the law changes.
Automatic Legal Obligations
These proposals don't simply create new rights. They also create new legal obligations between people who deliberately chose not to marry.
Opt Out is Complex
To avoid the framework both partners must agree, obtain independent legal advice, fully disclose their finances and sign a formal legal agreement.
Homes, Pensions and Assets
Courts could make orders over homes, pensions, property, other assets, lump sums and maintenance.
The Forgotten Women
Divorced and widowed women who consciously chose cohabitation to preserve their financial independence risk losing control of assets they built.
There Is a Better Way
Protection for the vulnerable is essential — but through informed choice. Opt in, not opt out.
The Forgotten Women
Voices that deserve to be heard.
Millions of divorced and widowed women have consciously chosen cohabitation to preserve their financial independence.
- Many have rebuilt their lives after divorce or bereavement.
- Many own homes and pensions they wish to protect.
- Many want their assets to pass to their children and grandchildren.
Protect vulnerable people through opt-in, not opt-out.
A Better Way
Protection through informed choice.
We support protecting vulnerable people.
But we believe that protection should be achieved through informed choice — people who want legal protections should be free to opt in, not be automatically opted in.
Take part in the consultation
Have Your Say
The Government consultation closes on 14 August 2026. Whatever your view, we encourage everyone to read the proposals and submit a response.
Respond to the Government Consultationon the Ministry of Justice consultation hub
Q&A
Questions & Answers
Straightforward answers to the most common questions about the proposals and the campaign.
News
Latest from the campaign
Press coverage and campaign updates.
Videos
Watch and share
Interviews, explainers and stories from the campaign.
Video
What the Government is proposing and why it matters.
Campaign explainer
Video
Baroness Ruth Deech in 2019 on why she opposes automatic cohabitation rights.
Video
Baroness Deech on LBC on opposing cohabitations reforms.
Video
Caller Jules tells LBC why she's against the proposals.
Support the campaign
Share your story. Spread the word. Help ensure every voice is heard.
Get in Touch
We'd like to hear from you.
Whether you're a member of the public, journalist, lawyer or policymaker, we welcome your questions, stories and support.